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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

It's a story we've all heard before, congressman gets earmarks for a company, and the company kicks in a few bucks to get the congressman reelected. This time the characters in the story are ES3, a government military contractor, and Rob Bishop, congressman from Utah's 1st district.

ES3 holds a fundraiser for Bishop each August, normally after the Utah Republican has inserted an earmark in legislation but before its final passage.

In the past five years, Bishop has helped SELDI, and therefore ES3, gain about $9.8 million in earmarks, which are pet projects requested by individual members that benefit their state or district. During that time, ES3 brass kicked in nearly $90,000 to Bishop's campaign account. .

Seems like a good deal for everyone involved right? But the rest of Utah's delegation isn't seeing the same love from ES3.

In this campaign cycle, ES3 donations account for one of every $6 Bishop raised. Utah Sens. Orrin Hatch and Bob Bennett helped Bishop get the SELDI earmark. ES3 did not donate to either of them.

Someone should let Hatch and Bennett know, I mean this company's giving Bishop over 15% of his overall fundraising in exchange for a little pork while the senators aren't getting any.